1. Depending on Others
In 2006, James Kim, his wife Kati, and their two young daughters left San Francisco on November 18 for a combined vacation and work trip. They spent Thanksgiving in Seattle with family and then went to Portland, Oregon to visit with a friend. After the visit in Portland, the family headed home but missed a critical turnoff. So they decided to drive the 55 miles down Interstate 5 to Grants Pass. There they turned onto Bear Camp Road, which is lightly traveled even in the summer and often is closed in the winter.
It was stormy and James mistakenly turned off onto a logging road later that evening. They were soon wending up into the mountains and when they reached higher elevations it began to snow. The family became hopelessly lost and finally became stranded in snow. The Kim family ran the engine of their station wagon to power its heater until the gas was gone. They ate what little food they had, and Kati Kim breast-fed her two daughters. After a week of being stranded James decided to venture out on foot to seek help.
James Kim put himself through a desperate ordeal, climbing down a ravine over boulders and logs, though nearly impenetrable brush and in and out of an icy creek, in what one rescue leader called a "superhuman" effort to save his family.
Kati and the girls were spotted two days after James had left to look for help. James' body was found two days after his family had been rescued.
(This article appeared on page A-1 of the San Francisco Chronicle December 7, 2006)
The Kim family had become lost. They had become absolutely dependent on others for their rescue. Over one hundred rescue works had searched for them. Even a satellite had been turned to the area in hopes of finding James.
We need to remember that it is still easy to get stranded or lost. Not just physically but also spiritually as well. We need someone who can rescue/save us. Jesus is that One as our Mighty God and Everlasting Father:
2. Isaiah 9:6
3. His Name will be Called:
* Wonderful -- He takes care of the dullness of life (meant to be exciting and abundant)
* Counselor -- He takes care of the decisions of life -- directs our steps
* Mighty God -- He takes care of the demands of life
* Eternal Father -- he takes care of the dimensions/destination of life
4. We are Dependent on Him as Mighty God and Everlasting Father, He is able to change lives today and forever -- Colossians 1.9-14
9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. 11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
I. As Mighty God He Demonstrates His Power in Battle
The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one [Warrior] who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3.17
A. In His Victory He is Able to Save Us -- Hebrews 7.25
Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
1. In Creation God shows his hand; in salvation God shows his heart.
2. The cross was the ultimate battleground for Jesus
B. In His Victory He is Able to Support Us -- Jude 24-25
Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
1. The solid foundation -- Matthew 7.24-27
2. [Ben Franklin at Constitutional Convention
In this situation of this Assembly, groping as it were in the dark to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when presented to us, how has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understandings? In the beginning of the Contest with Great Britain, when we were sensible of danger we had daily prayer in this room for the divine protection.- Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a superintending providence in our favor.
To that kind providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? Or, do we imagine that we no longer need his assistance? I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth- that God Governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that "except the Lord build the House they labor in vain that build it." I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better, than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and bye word down to future ages. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing Governments by Human wisdom and leave it to chance, war and conquest.
I therefore beg leave to move-that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the Clergy of this City be requested to officiate in that Service-
C. In His Victory He is Able to Secure Us -- 2 Timothy 1.12b
12 And this is why I am suffering as I do. Still I am not ashamed, for I know (perceive, have knowledge of, and am acquainted with) Him Whom I have believed (adhered to and trusted in and relied on), and I am [positively] persuaded that He is able to guard and keep that which has been entrusted to me and which I have committed [to Him] until that day.2 Timothy 1.12b
1. We must be CONVINCED
2. ******God secures/keeps/guards what he entrusts to us and what we give him******
Our souls/lives/families/jobs/plans/futures
D. In His Victory He is Able to Strengthen Us -- Ephesians 3.14-16
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
1. Do we live beneath the privileges we have in Jesus?
2. God offers abundant, eternal life now and forever -- do we take that life or sing, "I Did It My Way"?
II. As Everlasting Father He Demonstrates the Revelations of God
A. He Reveals Eternal Life -- John 1.1-4a
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
1. Quantity -- John 10.10
2. Quality -- John 10.2828 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish . . .
B. He Reveals Eternal Light -- John 1.4b-10
4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. 9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.
1. He Shows us What We Are
Cherokee Indian Wisdom
An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. "A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy. "It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil - he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. The other is good - he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. This same fight is going on inside you - and inside every other person, too."
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?"
"The one you feed."
2. He Shows us What We Can Become
a. He gives us a "Faith Lift" -- New Life -- Romans 6.4
b. New standards to live by --
c. Separating Ordinary people from Extraordinary -- "And then some"
1) Second Mile
2) Doing our jobs; loving our families; Caring for people; being good students; excelling as an athlete; forgiving -- AND THEN SOME
C. He Reveals Eternal Love -- John 1.18; 3.16
18 No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known.
"The supreme happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved." Victor Hugo
1. God loves us -- PERIOD; EXCLAMATION POINT .!
a. No strings attached, he always loves us.
b. He wants to be loved by us -- freely, not because we expect to get something
c. [Wealthy people will wonder if the person they are marrying loves them or their money
2. "God loves us as we are, but too much to leave us that way.
3. So, he stretches us -- rubber bands are of no use until they are stretched.
4. Ephesians 3.20-21
20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
